Native aluminium is an extremely rare metallic mineral that typically occurs as tiny inclusions or irregular grains within other minerals. Because it oxidizes easily in nature to form a protective layer, collectors should look for silver-white metallic flakes often found in geological settings associated with volcanic activity.
Is this native aluminium?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch native aluminium with a known reference. Native Aluminium sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Native Aluminium leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Native Aluminium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, silver-white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, grains, flakes, thin plates.
Often confused with
Native Aluminium vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Silver is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.5-3 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Native Aluminium leaves white, Silver leaves silver-white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Native Aluminium leaves white, Lead leaves blue-gray.
Often found alongside native aluminium
Minerals reported to co-occur with native aluminium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 2.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Grains, Flakes, Thin Plates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Volcanic Rocks, Low-temperature Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and provenance
Where rockhounds find native aluminium
Classic worldwide localities
- Russia
- Azerbaijan
- Italy
- Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic rocks, low-temperature hydrothermal deposits country, the host setting where native aluminium typically forms. If you start seeing corundum, magnetite, ilmenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, grains, flakes, thin plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find native aluminium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
